XnView Software

I have a question about rating using the browser, and I hope someone can help...

I'm trying to use XnView MP for image culling using the browser, and I'd like to make the process as efficient as possible.

As far as I can see, there are four ways to rate from the browser:
1. Click on the image, and in the preview area there will be a rating overlay, and you can directly click one of the stars.
2. Hover over the image, and a star overlay will appear in the upper right corner; click it and you get a menu to to select a rating.
3. Create toolbar icons
4. Use the right click menu

#1 and #3 are two clicks and a big pointer move away from the image.
#2 is two clicks and two smaller mouse moves; movement must be precise because the star is close between two other small icons.
#4 way too slow and too many clicks

Is there a way to get the rating overlay (as appears in the preview pane) to appear over images in the browser when you mouseover?

That would cut the number of clicks in half. Just move your mouse to the image, immediately you get the rating overlay and can click the particular value you want.

Is that possible to do? That would make rating considerably faster than it is now; just wheel to scroll up more images, and click the direct-value rating button on any image you want.

If it can't be done, can the developer add it as an option?

It would be nice if categories/colors could be done the same way.

Thanks...

use shortcuts?
check Settings > Interface > Shortcuts

Also note that Rating, Color labels, Categories are saved in app's Catalog by default and not inside file XMP/sidecar.
You can change it in setting though.

Thank you, I'm aware of keyboard shortcuts, but I want to use the mouse exclusively. Ratings and Colors/Categories are saved in the sidecar if settings are set properly.

I'm looking for a way to make rating by mouse more efficient.

Does anyone have any other thoughts on how more efficient rating with a mouse might be achieved in the browser?

There's so much capability in XnView MP that I wonder if I'm missing something...

Settings > (Interface) Toolbar
"Browser Toolbar" is selected
- select --NEW BAR-- on the right-hand side, at the top of the list, and use the left arrow to move it to the left.
- Same method to move the five star ratings to (the bottom of) the left side of the table
- Move also "Unrated"
- Move some of these icons up or down to sort them from 0 to 5
- OK

Your new tool bar is at the top right corner : drag-it to a convenient location, near to the thumbnails ...
Sometimes, you'll have to drag it again in it's place.
Color labels can also be added in the same way.

It's not exactly what you asked for, but it's a possible solution.

The same operation can be made on the "Viewer" Toolbar, so that you can rate your photos in View mode.
I'm often using this method with (move to next image) ratings

Thank you. I tried what you suggested. It's still twice as many clicks as necessary.

What would be ideal would be just to have an option to have the ratings-mouseover that appears on the preview also available when you mouseover any image in the browser.

Since that doesn't seem to be possible, would the developer consider adding it?

It would make rating and culling a lot faster.

Thank you...

you can change rating in the preview of browser

Yes, rating can be done through the preview, but it's not efficient, as I said in my original post.

You have to click on the image (so that the preview loads the image), then mouse to the preview and click the rating, then mouse back and click another image to select. To rate 6 images: 12 clicks and 12 extra mouse moves (to and from the preview).

If the ratings buttons would appear on mouseover over the images in the browser, to rate the same 6 images: 6 clicks, no extra mouse moves. More than twice as fast!

It would be much quicker and more efficient if the ratings mouseover could appear in the browser. It doesn't need any different capabilities, just the option to have the ratings mouseover appear on any image thumbnail in the browser not just in the preview pane.

Adding this feature would really make XnView MP an ideal program for culling!

but when you mouseover a thumbnail, rating appears

OP wants all 5 stars visible on thumbnails like in Capture One, DxO, Lightroom, darktable, see examples:
Settings - thumbnail - overlay icon - add custom positioning